I wanted to do my grandfather’s sacrifices justice. I wanted to look back at my life and be proud of the man my grandfather had brought up. Marriage was a commitment, a promise to be faithful, and I didn’t break my promises so I didn’t make any that I couldn’t keep-I wasn’t about to become my parents. I wasn’t the kind of guy who cheated on his wife. “You know Aurora isn’t the right woman for me.”

My grandfather’s stroke had only escalated things. A lot.” We’d been talking about this for years. But working at Woolton was the only thing she wanted to do. After university, when Darcy said she was going to work full time on the estate, I urged her to find her own path in the world. The thing was she was married to the estate-it had been her whole life since we were kids. I knew it wouldn’t be exactly the same, there wouldn’t be that emotional investment she had in Woolton, but her life wouldn’t change significantly. “It’s not like we’re talking about the rest of your life.” I really wanted to make this better for my sister, but she’d see that I could buy her another property, really similar to Woolton Hall. There were too many beautiful girls in the world. But I knew myself well enough to know I could never be faithful to one woman. I’d have slept with her before now if I hadn’t thought she’d read all kinds of meaning into us having sex. “That’s not the point, Darce.” Fucking Aurora would be the least of my problems. Aurora and I had known each other as kids, first crushes, but she didn’t know me now, not as an adult. And the alternative-that she’d want a real husband-was worse.

“I don’t want to get married.” Certainly not to someone who only wanted me for the title I’d inherit. “I really want you to consider an arrangement with Aurora-she cares about our family, and she’d make an excellent wife.” However, knowing how he wanted my sister to inherit, I knew he would welcome a solution. Darcy hated the idea that there would be a battle over our grandfather’s assets, because it seemed to somehow taint the importance of our love for the man. “I don’t want to fight over grandfather’s estate,” I replied. “You know how I feel about that,” she said.

Duke of Manhattan by Louise Bay